How to open a .EML file online
No mail account and no extra software to install.
Pick your .EML file
Drag it in or click to choose it. It opens here in a moment.
Read it safely
The message opens in a locked-down view: scripts never run, and remote images often used for tracking stay blocked until you allow them.
Check and save
Download attachments, read the full headers, and see every server the message passed through, with SPF, DKIM and DMARC results.
About .EML files
What a .EML file is, and what's inside it.
An EML file is one email message saved as a plain-text file (headers, body, and any attachments) in the MIME/RFC 822 format. You do not need Microsoft Outlook to open it: Mozilla Thunderbird, Windows Mail, and Apple Mail all work for free. A common task is converting an EML to PDF for archiving.
Programs that open .EML files
| Full name | E-Mail Message (RFC 822 / MIME) |
|---|---|
| Developer | IETF standard (MIME); popularized by Microsoft Outlook Express |
| First released | RFC 822 (1982), MIME RFC 2045 (1996); .eml extension popularized by Outlook Express, late 1990s |
| Category | |
| MIME type | message/rfc822 |
Related viewers
Open the attachments you find.
Is it safe to open a suspicious .EML file here?
Safer than in a mail client: the message runs in an isolated frame with scripts disabled, remote images and trackers are blocked until you allow them, and attachments are never opened automatically.
How can I tell if an e-mail is fake?
Look at the Message info panel. We show the SPF, DKIM and DMARC results recorded by the receiving server, warn you when the Reply-To address differs from the sender, and list every server the message passed through.
Can I open a Gmail or Thunderbird mailbox (.mbox)?
Yes. Drop the .mbox file and you'll get a searchable list of every message. Click one to read it.
Why does my MSG file show plain text only?
Some Outlook messages store their formatting only as compressed RTF. We show the text today; full RTF formatting is coming soon.
Can I open .pst or .ost files?
Not yet. Outlook data files are on our roadmap. Meanwhile you can export single messages from Outlook as .msg and open them here.
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